SARS APPREHENDS THIEF, RECOVERS STOLEN ITEMS FROM CEILING TOP OF HIS RESIDENCE

[Street Report]–It was indeed like a ‘Nollywood movie’ as hundreds of onlookers gathered around a hostel in Adenike students’ area yesterday, March 5, 2017, surprised at the volume of stolen items that were being brought out of the ceiling of the suspected thief and loaded into SARS vehicles.

The suspect, identified as Williams Oluwatomide (popularly known as Prince Tee), had been arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ogbomoso, after being seen wearing one of the stolen face caps two days ago. His girlfriend was also reportedly seen wearing stolen clothing.

According to sources, the suspect, was a well-known whistle blower in the area. He would readily volunteer information about robbery incidents, try to protect prospective victims by offering them padlocks claiming that it had only one key left which he gives them.

In another hostel, he reportedly paid forty out of the sixty thousand naira rent for a room to gain access as somebody wanting to renovate, and prepare the room for his eventual relocation. The hostel got burgled.

Prince Tee, a student of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, LAUTECH, holds the post of Librarian at his faculty organization, and is always at forefront of student struggles. He was allegedly arrested during one of the protests held by students LAUTECH, during the just concluded break.

The suspect confessed that he did steal some of the items, while some were actually his.

He led the SARS to the ceiling top of the hostel where he kept his ‘spoils of war’.

The loot was so massive that one of those who participated in the offloading exercise confirmed that they spent over two hours in the ceiling bringing down a lot of items which included, Standing fans, Plates and Spoons, GoTV decoders, Plasma TVs, Female shoes, Bags filled with clothing in different styles, Jugs, Musical instruments (piano, trumpet), Refrigerators, etc.

The loot also included compact Public Address Systems belonging to his faculty.

According to sources from the faculty, he claimed that the person repairing them died after he (Prince Tee) had collected the money meant for repair.

The Deputy Dean of Students Affairs (DDSA), who came around yesterday night while the items were being conveyed to SARS office, said students should go and claim their items at the New Wazo Market office of SARS.

Students trooped into SARS premises as early as 8 am to retrieve them. Some, however, couldn’t find theirs. It was opined that there were probably other places where he kept the loots, and he must have had accomplices.

When asked, Williams who said he was a 300 level student of Electronics Electrical Engineering Department, maintained that there was nothing left hiding anywhere, and all the items he had has been recovered.

Zubair Jafar Alabi writes for the Central Press Council

Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), LAUTECH

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